Eagles versus Typhoons and remembering the Perfect Storm
Poland looks to add a heavyweight air superiority fighter and an impossible rescue
Fight on and fly on to the last drop of blood and the last drop of fuel, to the last beat of the heart.
-Manfred von Richthofen
On the Radar
In an era marked by evolving geopolitical landscapes and increasing defense requirements, Poland finds itself at a critical juncture. With an eye on bolstering its aerial capabilities, the country is faced with a momentous decision: Should it opt for Boeing's F-15EX Strike Eagle or Europe's Eurofighter Typhoon? Let’s briefly consider each one:
The Eurofighter Typhoon presents itself as a mature, multirole platform with a strong emphasis on air superiority and air dominance. Its versatility is underscored by a wide range of weaponry options, from the Meteor air-to-air missiles to the Storm Shadow stand-off missiles. Additionally, its high level of interoperability with the F-35—something that's already been proven in operations with the Royal Air Force and the Italian Air Force—makes it an attractive option. The aircraft promises full data sovereignty and significant technology spillover benefits for the Polish defense industry.
On the other hand, Boeing's F-15EX Strike Eagle brings its own set of compelling attributes to the table. Engineered as a formidable multirole aircraft, the F-15EX is tailored to meet the emerging threats from nations like China and Russia. Equipped with state-of-the-art systems like the EPAWSS electronic warfare and electronic surveillance system, and Open Mission Systems architecture, it promises cutting-edge capabilities. Additionally, the F-15EX is already in production, and its selection would further harmonize Poland's fleet with U.S. and NATO inventories.
As Poland already anticipates the integration of F-35s into its air force, both fighters present viable options to complement the fleet. But the broader implications of the decision, be it in terms of interoperability, technology transfer, or geopolitical alliances, make this an incredibly complex and significant choice.
In summary, both fighters offer exceptional capabilities, but their distinct advantages cater to different strategic outlooks. Given Poland's recent history of varied defense procurements, it's conceivable that they might opt for more than one platform to fill their needs. The competition is stiff, the stakes are high, and as Poland readies itself to make this crucial decision, all eyes are on what path this key NATO member will take. I’m working on a video about this exact topic/debate and should have the video to you by this Friday, be sure to check the channel!
This week in aviation history
30 October 1991: Imagine flying straight into a tempest, one so powerful it would go down in history as "The Perfect Storm." That's precisely what the crew aboard the USAF Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk, call sign "Jolly 110," did on October 30, 1991. This elite team, hailing from the 106th Rescue Wing of the New York Air National Guard, embarked on a perilous mission. At the helm was Major C. David Ruvola, joined by his co-pilot Captain Graham Buschor, flight engineer Staff Sergeant James R. Mioli, and pararescue jumpers Technical Sergeant John Spillane and Technical Sergeant Arden Rick Smith. Their daring objective was to execute a rescue mission 250 miles out into the furious Atlantic.
As they ventured forth, a weather buoy situated 264 miles south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, recorded a staggering wave height of 100.7 feet—the highest ever witnessed in that section of the Atlantic. The ferocity of the storm rendered the mission untenable, forcing the crew to consider the difficult decision of turning back.
Refueling became the next hurdle. The Pave Hawk had already tanked up three times from a Lockheed HC-130 Hercules. Low on fuel and struggling to maintain altitude amid unrelenting turbulence and near-zero visibility, a fourth refueling attempt became a near-impossible task. Major Ruvola made over 30 valiant efforts to connect with the fuel drogues trailing from the tanker plane, but to no avail; both drogues were damaged irreparably by the harsh weather conditions.
With a mere twenty minutes of fuel left and facing the inevitable, Major Ruvola made the gut-wrenching decision to ditch the helicopter into the storm-tossed ocean. At 9:30 p.m., the first engine gave out. Running on the last engine, Ruvola managed to hover above the merciless waters, enabling Buschor, Mioli, Spillane, and Smith to leap into the abyss.
The second engine failed moments later, forcing Ruvola into a hovering autorotation. The blades came to a screeching halt upon hitting an incoming wave. Ruvola found himself submerged 15 feet underwater before escaping the doomed aircraft.
The Pave Hawk plummeted into the ocean 90 miles south of Montauk Point, engulfed by 100-knot winds and mountainous 80-foot waves. After a harrowing five-hour struggle in the raging waters, four crew members were miraculously rescued by the USCGC Tamaroa, a Coast Guard vessel with a history dating back to WWII.
Despite an exhaustive week-long search, Technical Sergeant Arden Rick Smith was never found. His sacrifice, along with the heroism of his comrades, is forever etched into the annals of aviation history.
By revisiting stories like these, we pay tribute to the valor of those who dare to fly into the face of danger. It serves as a stark reminder of the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women, even when facing insurmountable odds.
In case you missed it
Poland has been making many moves when it comes to its military. Here is a video from early last year detailing the arrival of USAF Eagles in country:
Photo Outlet
Timing is everything in photography. I was lucky to get this capture of the F-35 Demo Team aircraft taking off on full burner just as it passed the Thunderbirds on the ramp:
Post Flight Debrief
As my channel gets closer to 100,000 subscribers - I want to take a moment to thank you for reading my newsletter and watching my videos. The amount of people I have met and had conversations with, the incredible comments and discussions from videos and posts has been amazing. Thank you, be well, stay safe, and live every day to the fullest.
That’s all for this week, thanks for reading! If you know a fellow aviation enthusiast that would enjoy these weekly newsletters, then please forward this along. Now you know!
-Tog